Breech-loading ordnance



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

, o. W. SPONSBL.

BREBGH vLOADING ORDNANGE. No. 447,376. Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

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o. W. SPONSBL. BREECH LOADING ORDNANGE.

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Patented Mar. 3,1891.

. o. w. sPoNs'EL. BREBCE LOADING ORDNANCE.

(N0. Model.)

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UNITED STATES CHARLES W. SPONSEL, OF

FATENT @Errea llAR'lFORD, CONNECTICUT.

esseci-riesame ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,376, dated March 3, 1891.

l Application lcd April 30, i890. Serial No. 350,107. (llcmmlel.)V

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES TV. SPONSEL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain neve breech, extracting the empty shell, and cocking the gun are accomplished bythe movement of an actuating-reverie 4one direction' and the closing ot' the breech and the making ready for firing are accomplished by a movementcf the :,ictuating-lever in a contrary direction.

The object of'the iuventionzis to provide an organization of mechanism in which all the operative parts maybe carriedon and by the breech-block an d be removable therewith, so that the gun may be/quicklydismantled by rmnoval of the'blreech-block, and so that the sire and weight of the breech-piece may be reduced, while preserving suiiieient strength; also, te reduce the cost of manufacture by assembling all the workin g details on the breechblock, whereby the machining operations are much simplified and reduced.

In the drawings accompanyingr and forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of a breech-loading cannon embodying my improvements, t-he barrel and shoulder-rest being broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of thc barrel, from which the breech-block has been removed. VFig. 4 is a rear View of the cannon, showing the breechblock in its upper or normal position. Fig. 5 is a similarkview showing thebreech-block down or in its lower position, the cannon being ready to receive a cartridge.

Fig. 6 is a 'central vertical section of the cannon, the

minor details in. place. Fig. l2 is a cross-scrtion of the cannon, the View being taken ir. line a a of Fig. G. Figs. 153i and 14 are side and edge views, respectively, of one of the extractors. Figs. l5 and 1li are end and side views, respectively, ci the firing-pin. Figs. 17,

and a side view of the scar, the sectional view being taken in line h b, Fig. 19. Fig. 20 shows an alternate form of the breech-bloelrin plan view.' Fig. 2l is a view similar to li, showing how a coiled spring may be usci. in place of thc hat spring shown in Fig. il. Fig. 22 is a detail view of the cooking-lever shaft as seen from the right hand in Fig. 11. Figs. 23land 24 are a plan and side view, respectively, ofthe trigger, showing said trigger in detail.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures.

The cannon consist-s of a barrel B, united to or formed integral with the enlarged breechpiece C, which is divided to form the two sides "C and C2, between which is" located the vertically-movable breech-block D. On the inner sides of said sides C and C, respectively, are formed the grooves or recesses 2 and e for receiving the corrcspondiugly-formed projections or ribs G and 8 of said sliding block D. Said grooves 2 and 4 are 'formed somewhat inclined to the vertical, so that as the block D is slid down, as in Figs'. 5 and 7, it is carried rearwardly a short distance, thus relieving the pressure against the head of the cartridge (not shown) `in the gun-barrel.

In Fig. 2O I have shown an alternate form of the projections 6 and 8, in which the'lugs 94 and 96 thereof engage the grooves 93 and 95, that are formed in the sides C and@z to receive the same. The said projections or bearers C and 8 of the breech-block, fitting the vslo ts 2 and 4 of the breech-piece, actas guides for the said block in its up and down movements to close or open the breech of the gun, and, by engaging the abutlnents 82 8i on the breech-piece, sustain the breech-,block against the shock of discharge when the gun is fired.

It will be plainly seen from Figs. G and 7' that the front face vof the breech-block and the guides above described are cut on e slight angle. Vhen the block'D is up, the face G1 of 'the recoil-plate 5U stands close to the channel for the cartridge-head' but as 1S, and 19 arerespectively an end, a section,-v

forward in a well-known manner to discharge the cartridge, the tiring-point 3l striking the usual percussion-cap in the head of the cartridge.

The cooking-lever i6 is carried on the cocking-lever shaft Al7,which is tted to turn freely in the bore 1S of the breech-block, and said shaft has an arm i9 formed on the left-hand end thereof, against which the main or firing spring 50 bears. As shown in Fig. 1l, said spring 50 consists of the two leaves 7 (3 and 7S, joined at 77 and having. a projection 74 at said junctiom'wliieh projection fits into the recess 73 for the-purpose of retaining the said spring in the recess 5l, that is formcd'in the left-hand side of the breech-block therefor. lElhe end 79 of the leaf`76 of said spring engages a notch formed in one side of the recess 5l to receive it. 'ihe'end 8O of the leaf 7S en gages the arm 49 of the cooking-lever shaft 47. In Fig. 2l I have shown 'an alternate form of mainspring in which said spring is a coilspring, designated by 100, carried in the recess 5l, and having a plunger or slide 102 to engage the arm 49 in a manner easily understood. The shaft 47 basa squared part to tit the similarly-formed hole 53 of the lever 4G, so that the said shaft and lever are fixed and move together asirone partrihe cooking of. the gun is effected as follows: The hereinbefore-mentioned sha-ft 9, which may also be denominated the cocking-cam shaft, has a keys'lot or groove 5i cut therein. The stem or shaft 45 of the trigger acts as a key fitting in said groove and holding said shaft in place, as will be understoodfrcm Figs.A 6 and 7. formed thereon the cooking-cam 55, a proper A.form of which is shown in section in Fig. l2, and which acts through the lever 4G to cock the gun when the operator. turns the cranklever 7 toward the right hand, as hereinbefore stated. The recoil-plate 56 is inserted in the front face 5 of the breech-block and is removably held in plac by screws in a wellknown manner. A hole 58 is formed in the. said recoilplate, through which the firing-point 3l reaches to strike the cap of the cartridge. A pair of stop-pins, as G2 and G4, Figs. l and 3, are Xed in the right and left hand sides, rcspectively, of the breech-piece C, and project into the opposite1y-disposed grooves or slots (i3 and G5, that are formedin the sides of the breech-block. Said pins and slots are provided for the purpose of preventing the breech-block from falling or sliding out of the breech-piece during the disassembling of the cannon, and also to limit the downward movement of the breech-block and take the blow thereof, so that the crank willbe relievedof the force of said blow.

lhe general operationof cooking and firing this my improved cannon may be described as follows: Fig. 6 shows the parts in their normal position. 1f a discharge has previ` ously taken place, the shell of the discharged cartridge is still in the boro Utl et' the barrel Said shaft .l has l. riheoperator, by means of thccrank-levcr 7, throws down the breech-block l), as above describedtwhich operates through the extractors to iii-st gradually Withdraw the shell and then to quickly further and fully withdraw and throw out to rearward the said shell. At the same time the cooking-cani 55 operates through the cocking-arin d to draw back thc firing-pin 26 to thc position shown in Fig. 7, when the deteut-face 33 of the scar is thrown into engagement with the detent-faco 20 ot said firing-pin by means of the spring i0, locking the ring-pin in said position. This operates, also, to contract the mainspring in a well-known manner. The operator now inserts a cartridge in the bore of the, barrel, and then by a reverse movement of thc ,crank-lever 7 raises the block D, which closes the breech. The Weights or guides of the breech block` and grooves therefor in the breech-piece being formed on a slight angle tothe axis .of the barrel, as .above described, thc raising of the breech-block gradually The reverse .movement of the crank-lever does not affect the positioi` of the firing-pin and its accessory pa ts, the; being still locked bv the seal'. flies the breech has been ""eiosedgas above described, the operator, by

means of the trigger 43, disengages the sear forces the cartridge home, as before stated.`

from the firing-pin, which is immediately thrown forward by the mainspring to effect the discharge of the cartridge. The blockactuatinglshaft 9, being` carried by the breechblock itself, is thereby made readily availa ble for onerating the tiring-pin by means ef a cam on said shattgand the crank-arm 10 engaging a groove of the cannon,- which groove is crosswise to the breech-block movement, the turningtof the. shaft carried by the block not only actuates the block, .but also locks the saine at the extremes ot' its sliding movements, asindicat'ed in Figs. 4; and 5, respectively. The shaft- 9 has its axis in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the plane of the bore GO of the barrel li, so that the arm IOO on said shaft engages directly with the front wall N of the breech-piece, and so that .the

Arear end of said shaft passes up between vthe breecli-block sides C and C2 when said bloeit is raised to its uppermost position. The sides C and U2 being entirely unconnected at their rear ends, the. block D may be .g-

moved from thc breech-piece at the top therecrosswise to the breech-block movement, of, the slidin g `breech-block, the 'blockactu`ating shaft carried by said block, and a crank-arml on said shaft and engaging said groove, whereby the block is actuated by the turning therein of the shaftcarried thereby and is locked at the'extreines of its movement by said crank. y

3. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination, with the breech-piece having the sides thereof unconnected'at their rear ends, .of the breech-block sliding between said sides |and the bloeit-actuating shaft carried by said block and engaging the front. wall of the breech-piece, all being constructed and conibined Substantially. as described, so that the 'block may be withdrawliwith said shaft pro-' jecting from the rearward side thereof.

, 4. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination, with the breech-piece and with the movable breech-block and its crank-shaft carried therein, of the tiring-pin located in said 4block above and Asubstantially parallel with said shaft, and a cam on said shaft constructed and connected, substantially as set forth, to draw back the firing-pin on the turning of the shaft in the block'to open the breech.

` 5. In breechdoading ordnance'the combination, with the breech-block, of the firingpin and the block-actuating shjilfft, both carried by said block, a'cal'n on said shaft, and

the cocking-lever pivotcd in said block and connected to actuate the firing-pin from said cani.

. In breecli-loading ordnance, the combi- `nation, with the breech-block, of the shaft 9,

having the cam 55, the` iring-pin,and lever 46, pivotally supported in said block and-engaging said pin and constructed to be operated by said cam.

7. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination, with thc breechfblcck, of the shaft carried thereby and having the cocking-cam, the cocking-lever, 'the firing-pin, and a mainspring connected to throw forward said pin.4

S. I'n breech-loadingordnance, the combination, substantially as described, with the 1breech-piece and` with the movable breechblock and. its actuating crank-shaft carried therein, of the tiring-pin located in said block' above and substantially parallel with said shaft, the cocking-eain on said shaft, and op'- erativclyccnnected, substantiall y as set forth, to aetnate said pin to draw back the saine on the turning of the shaft to lower the breechblock, a inainspring connected tothrow for- Ward the firing-pin, and the scar engaging the tiring-pin when this is retracted.

9. In breech-loading ordnance, the combi-v nation, with thebreechblock,.of thexringpin, the block-actuating shaf t carried by said block' and having the cocking-eam. opera- 'tively/-ecnnected to actuate said pin, a mainspring connected to throwvforward said pin, the scar 32, fitted to revolve in said block and engage said tiring-pin, and a trigger opera- Ively connected to disen gage said scar.

piece.

pin, the sear 32, having the catch 33, engag-` ing 'said notch, and means, substantially as described, `for operating said scar by hand.

11. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination, with the breech-block, of the blockL actuating shaft carried thereby and having the cocking-cain, the firing-pin, the lever operatively connecting said cazn and tiring-pin and carried by the shaft 47, the shaft 47, havv ing arm 19, and a mainspring bearing on said arm to throw forward said firing-pin.

12. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination, with the brfech-block and with the tiring-pin 26, having the notch 29, of the sear fittedto turn in a bore in said block and having a catch engaging saidr pin, and having an arm connected by a rod with the Itrigger, whereby said scar may be turned to release the iiringpin.

13. In breech-loadin g ordnance, the combination, with the breech-block and with the block-actuating shaft carried thereby and grooved for a shaft-retaining pin, of the trigger carried on a stein extending into the grorve et said shaft and constituting such retaining-pin.

I4. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination, with the breech-block and with its actuating-shaft carried therein and having the groove fora retaining-pin, of the trigger having a stein constituting such retaining-- pin and having'its arin extending under a lng on said block for holding the trigger in place.

' 15. In breech-loading ordnance, thecombination, with the breech-block moving be' tween the sides of the breech-piece, of a reciprocating extractor carried' by' the block and constructed to have a movement in the block crosswise to the movement of the block and engaging a cam-groove in the'breech- 16. In breech-loading ordnance', the combi;

nation, with the breech-block moving in the breechpiece, substantially-as described, of`

thev extractor-s constructed with a projection engaging the groove 22 in the breech-piece.

17. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination, with the breech-blockmoving in the breech-piece, Asubstantially as described, and having the guide-bearer@ rncrtised for the extractor, of the extractor 16, sliding in said mortise and provided with the extractor-hook and with :i projection engaging a cam-groove in the breech-piece.I

CHARLES w., sroNsEL. n Witnessesi HENRY L. RECKARD, W. M. BYonKMAN.

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